Benefits Of Using Needle Exchange Programs - 1529 Words

Are drug users people too? The health and safety of all people is crucial. It’s important keeping drug dependent people free of HIV this prevents its spread to their partners and their children. In order to provide necessary care, free sterilized needles should be given to drug users. The public should be advised of positive effects of needle exchange programs and warned of the risks of not supplying adequate syringes. The provocative idea of giving drug addicts clean needles to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS was first broached in 1985. This concept has been under research ever since. Harm reduction approaches for those who inject drugs, including the distribution of clean needles and syringes, are proven interventions to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, and are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other leading public health agencies. Much examination has been undertaken to prevent the spread of these deadly diseases. In the meantime, AIDS has spread more rapidly among intravenous drug users than any other group. Needle Exchange programs have been set in place all over the world to test its effects. A needle exchange program is defined as: Any program intended to slow the spread of AIDS (and hepatitis C) among IV drug abusers (IVDAs), in which a governmental or charitable agency exchanges sterile needles for dirty, potentially contaminated needles used by IVDAs when injecting (â€Å"shooting†) heroin or other substances. SmallShow MoreRelatedMethadone Clinics1161 Words   |  5 PagesMethadone Clinics and Needle Exchange Programs: Critical Thinking There are many people in the world today that are drug addicts and cannot quit by themselves which is where the methadone clinics come into the picture. Methadone reduces the withdrawal symptoms therefore making it easier to quit drugs. Even though methadone is supposedly proven to be safe, it seems to have biases and stigmas associated with it because it is an opioid medication and many people can become addicted to it as wellRead MoreHuman Immunodeficiency Virus : An Example Of The Harm Reduction Philosophy Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pagesdisease suffer whilst transmitting it to their loved ones as well. Fortunately, the Needle Exchange Program miraculously helps lower the risk of sharing needles and the spread of diseases between drug users, which in turn decreases the chances of intravenous users obtaining HIV and other fatal diseases. It is a government funded program that allows intravenous drug users to receive clean needles and exchange used needles in an orderly manner. Not only that, but the NEP also provides bleach bottles,Read MoreThe Effects Of Drug Abuse On The United States1479 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the year of 2012. The number of people using heroin for the first time is dramatically high, with 156,000 people starting in 2012, doubling from the year 2009 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) Those using heroin are typically adults aged between 18-25 years old. The impact of heroin is felt all over the United States affecting many people. Heroin is identified as one of the most important drugRead MoreThe Problem Of Drug Abuse1525 Words   |  7 PagesClean needle exchanges are a sure way to stop the spread of disease among addicts. Every day thousands of addicts are sharing needles because they have no other option, they simply don t have the resources or the money to have their own personal needles. It might not be stopping the major problem of drug addiction but it will help to limit the number of deaths caused by sharing infected needles. Clean needle exchanges aim to eliminate diseases spread by giving addicts access to clean needles. Read MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv ) Or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( Aids )1281 Words   |  6 Pagesthe newly affecting using injection drugs, Whites 26%, and Latinos/ Hispanics with 21% (CDC.gov, 2015). Injection drug use can spread the HIV virus by any of the following acts: using blood-contaminated syringes to prepare drugs, reusing water, reusing bottle caps, spoons, or other containers (cookers) to dissolve drugs into water and to heat drugs solutions, reusing small pieces of cotton or cigarette filters (cottons) to filter out particles that could block the needles (AIDS.gov, 2014). WithRead MoreSyringe Exchange Programs: A Matter of Public Health Essay1730 Words   |  7 Pages it is almost always fatal since there is currently no cure for the diseas e. A major component of HIV prevention is the Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP’s). SEP’s are one of the main resolutions that targets curbing the spread of blood-borne viruses among injecting drug users (IDU’s). With an estimated 1 in 5 injecting drug users worldwide infected with HIV, the program is vital to bringing this epidemic under control. 60 countries worldwide have reported HIV among IDUs and an additional 40 countriesRead MoreMethadone Maintenance Therapy ( Mmt )1353 Words   |  6 Pagesto address the benefits and the complications associated with this replacement therapy. This paper will examine some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with MMT and reflect on personal ideals in accordance with MMT. History of Methadone Maintenance Methadone Maintenance Therapy was first developed in the 1960s by Dole and Nyswander (Latowsky, 2006). MMT is a branch of Harm Reduction; Harm reduction is the concept that people cannot stop those with addictions from using, but can helpRead MoreDrug Law Violations And Its Effects On The Lives Of Individuals1151 Words   |  5 Pagespaper, I will address and define the terms â€Å"decriminalization† and â€Å"harm reduction†. Also will reflect on the sale/use of prescription opiates, in parallel to the use I will identify how it effects society as a whole, by analyzing one cost and one benefit from the use/sale of prescription drugs. Lastly, I will apply a â€Å"harm reduction† strategy to the negative consequences that are presented through prescriptions opiates, then determine the feasibility of the policies being implemented. Drug arrestRead MoreThe Ethical Controversy of a Nurse`s Role in Harm Reduction1014 Words   |  5 Pageswhole. Harm reduction programs provide injection drug users with access to a clean injection environment, sterile injections, drug-preparation equipment and safe disposal of contaminated material at the time of injection. Staff members in harm reduction facilities provide health teaching, anonymous HIV testing, information on addiction treatment, condoms and assist in connecting clients to social and health services (Semaan et al., 2011; Ball, 2007). Although, the benefits of harm reduction areRead MoreA Safe Injection Site Is Essential For Esquimalt And Victoria1718 Words   |  7 Pagesrehabilitation programs. It is necessary to note that Victoria and Esquimalt are not differentiated when studies are done. Therefore, the extrapolation of accurate drug use statistics for Esquimalt is not available. For the purpose of this paper, Victoria statistics will be utilized, and, there fore, the data may not be valid for Esquimalt. However, the need for an injection site is essential for Esquimalt and Victoria. In this paper, I will address, the need for a harm reduction program in the community